Getting There

    As in 2009, the conference is being held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, in the heart of the theater district. The hotel is accessible by almost any mode of transportation, including subway (Times Square/42nd Street stop), taxi, Uber, Via, and even horse and carriage or pedi-cab! If you have never taken Uber, download the app and use promo code UBERON20 for up to $20 off of your first ride.

    The Marriott features a fitness center, Wi-Fi in rooms and lobby, ATM, business center, and more. The hotel's website provides more information on amenities, as well as local attractions and sightseeing ideas. We encourage you to make use of the concierge service at the hotel throughout your trip, as the concierge is well-informed about how to navigate the city and gain access to events.

    There are several dining options within close proximity to the hotel, in addition to a Starbucks and a few American restaurants within the hotel. If it works with your schedule, we strongly recommend leaving the hotel for food. For example, if you want to stay in Times Square, some good, less "tourist-trap" restaurants include Esca, Toloache, and Sushi of Gari. There are also a number of good coffee shops nearby, including Gregorys Coffee, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Café Grumpy, Bluestone Lane, and Blue Bottle Coffee (in Rockefeller Plaza). Additionally, Norma's, one of the top brunch spots, is only a 15-minute walk (or 10 minute subway ride) away, just be sure to make a reservation in advance (opentable.com). Check the ABCT website for a list of nearby restaurants compiled by the Local Arrangements Committee, and feel free to stop by the Local Arrangements Table if you would like a copy.

    By Plane: New York City is served by three major airports-LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in Queens, and Newark Liberty International Airport in nearby New Jersey. LaGuardia airport primarily serves domestic destinations, with a limited number of flights to and from some places in Canada and the Caribbean. JFK and Newark airports serve domestic and international destinations. All three airports provide access to NYC via taxis, buses, subways, and trains. It is also possible to request an Uber at the airport. Remember not to take a car service offered by a driver standing in the airport. If you are interested in a taxi, either wait in the taxi line, request an Uber on your phone, or call a car service in advance (e.g., Carmel 212-666-6666).

    The Marriott does not offer complimentary shuttle service, but there are several affordable vans from all airports, including SuperShuttle, Go Airlink. You can also take an express NYC Airporter bus from LGA or JFK to the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 43rd Street and 8th Avenue, which is just a few blocks from the Marriott Marquis. The express bus is great for those on a budget because it is inexpensive and relatively fast. Check out the NYC Airporter website for more information or to purchase tickets: http://www.nycairporter.com Check in at the ground transportation desk at any of the airports to make use of these options.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Jamaica, Queens, NY 11430

718-244-4444

    This airport is New York's largest, serving more than 75 primarily international airlines. It is approximately 15 miles from midtown Manhattan. Getting to midtown Manhattan from JFK:

    TAXI: $50 flat fee (non-metered) plus bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity; 30 to 60 minutes to midtown Manhattan. 212-NYC-TAXI

    AIRTRAIN to SUBWAY: $5 Airtran (children under 5 free) to the $2.75 A train (making local subway stops) from JFK to Times Square (approximately 60 to 90 minutes to Midtown).

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

Jackson Heights, Queens, NY 11371

718-533-3400

    This is New York's second-largest airport, with more than 20 airlines serving mostly domestic destinations, Canada, and the Caribbean from five passenger terminals. It is on the northern shore of Queens, directly across the East River, about 9 miles from midtown Manhattan.

    TAXI: Metered fare; $20 to $30 plus bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Newark, NJ 07114

973-961-6000

    Located in New Jersey, Newark Airport is 16 miles from midtown Manhattan. Over 30 million passengers pass through Newark Airport annually.

    TAXI: Metered fare; approximately $60-$70 plus tolls and gratuity.

    AIRTRAN to TRAIN: $5.50 to connect to the New Jersey Transit train service $13.00 from EWR to New York Penn Station at 33rd Street and 8th Avenue (approximately 20 to 30 minutes).

    By Train: There are two train stations in New York City: Penn Station and Grand Central Station. Penn Station, located at 33rd Street and 8th Avenue, houses Amtrak, the Long Island Railroad, and New Jersey Transit rail service. Grand Central Station on 42nd Street and Park Avenue serves Metro-North trains, and is utilized primarily by local commuters to and from Westchester, upstate New York, and Connecticut. Grand Central Station, known for its famous clock, is a popular attraction even if you are not commuting. It offers a famous Oyster Bar Restaurant, the chic Campbell Apartment bar, and many other food and shopping opportunities.

    By Car: If you are driving to the conference in your own car, please confirm parking arrangements well ahead of time, and do not leave your parked car unattended for any length of time in the hotel vicinity for risk of being ticketed or towed. The Marriott offers valet parking for $90 per day. There is also off-site parking for $90 per day. If you would like valet parking only if offsite garages, there is a 24-hour rate with in-and-out privileges for $65 for cars, $75 for SUVs, and $90 for oversized vehicles. Bestparking.com also provides information on discounted parking options.

    New York City is very accessible by walking and public transportation. We recommend mindfully walking around the different neighborhoods, though Times Square gets very crowded. The majority of locals take advantage of public transportation and avoid driving around the city. However, there are plenty of taxis, Ubers, and Vias available if you prefer to take a car around. Taxis accept cash, debit, and credit cards.

    The subway is arguably the fastest and easiest way to get around the city. Check out http://www.mta.info for information on different subway lines, buses, and service notices. Google Maps also offers subway and bus directions, and is a great way to estimate how long it will take to get from place to place. New York also has an intricate bus system; however, the buses can run slower than the subways. When you are here, check out http://bustime.mta.info for real-time updates on bus locations. To use the bus or subway, you will need to purchase a MetroCard from a vending machine in a subway station. The machines accept cash, debit, or credit cards, and the subway/bus fare is currently $2.75 per ride. Stop by the Local Arrangements table for help navigating the subway system.

Cuisines

    New York City is filled with too many excellent restaurants to list. We strongly recommend venturing away from Times Square and sampling our diverse cuisine. New York is known for bagels (try Russ & Daughter's, Ess-a-Bagel, Tal Bagel), pizza (try Grimaldi's, Ray's, Lombardi's), hot dogs (try Gray's Papaya, Papaya King, a sidewalk cart), pastrami sandwiches (try Katz's Deli, 2nd Avenue Deli), and black-and-white cookies (try Greenberg's, Glaser's Bake shop). We also recommend trying pork buns at Momofuku Noodle Bar or Ippudo, steak at Peter Luger's Steakhouse, a burger at J.G. Melon's, and having a chocolate chip cookie from Levain Bakery.

    In addition to local foods, we have a variety of Indian (try anywhere on East 6th Street or in "Curry Hill"), Chinese (try Shanghai Asian Manor in Chinatown), Korean (try any place in Koreatown), Italian (try Bar Pitti, Carbone, Scarpetta), Japanese (try Sushi of Gari, Sushi Yasuda), Thai (try Kin Shop, Spice, Pok Pok NY), and many more. Relatively reliable restaurant reviews and recommendations by neighborhood can be found on Yelp and OpenTable.com. OpenTable.com is also very useful for making restaurant reservations.

Museums

    There are numerous museums and galleries-both world-famous and local-in New York City. Some of the major museums include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Museum of Natural History. To avoid crowds, arrive as early as possible. Many museums have free admission or suggested admission. If you are a member of a museum in another city, you can also get reciprocal privileges at some NYC museums. Brooklyn Museum of Art is also free on the first Saturday of each month. The National Museum of the American Indian and the Hispanic Society of America are always free. The 9/11 Memorial Museum is also worth checking out. We recommend buying your tickets in advance (see for more information). For questions about lesser-known museums and galleries, stop by the Local Arrangements table at the convention.

Theater

    The convention hotel is located in the center of the Broadway show district. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance through Broadwaybox.com or looking for same-day tickets to select Broadway shows on the TKTS App, TodayTix App, or at the TKTS booth. There are also numerous excellent Off-Broadway shows and small theaters. If you have time, we also recommend purchasing tickets in advance for the NYC Ballet or the Metropolitan Opera, or at least visiting Lincoln Center. Additionally, Sleep No More (http://www.sleepnomore.com/#share) and Then She Fell http://www.thenshefell.com are immersive theatrical experiences worth checking out.

Music

    There are plenty of music venues in New York City, big and small. Some of the best music venues include Cake Shop, Pete's Candy Store (in Brooklyn), Irving Plaza, Terminal 5, Mercury Lounge, Barclay's Center, and more. Check out Ticketmaster.com for information about local concerts.

Shopping

    There are department stores, boutiques, and stores all over New York City. The big department stores are Macy's Herald Square, which is within walking distance from the Marriott, Bloomingdales, Saks, and Lord & Taylor. There are a number of high-end stores on Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and in Soho. There are also great boutiques in Nolita and Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Bar Hopping

    There are bars all over NYC, with many popular hangouts in the East Village, Lower East Side, and Meatpacking District. The Meatpacking District has more upscale bars and clubs. Additionally, The View bar atop the Marriott Marquis provides 360-degree views of Manhattan and surrounding areas as it slowly rotates.

Sports

    If you are interested in going to a sports event, check out http://www.nyc.com/sport_tickets for up-to-date information. If you are interested in playing sports, the Chelsea Piers Sports Complex on 23rd Street and the Hudson River provides a four-tiered outdoor golf driving range, bowling, ice skating, tennis, rock climbing, and more. It is quite a unique experience to hit golf balls off the four-tiered driving range. Check out https://www.chelseapiers.com for more information.

Uniquely New York

    If you plan to extend your trip in New York, the Village Halloween parade will be held on Monday, 10/31: https://www.halloween-nyc.com, and is a sight to see. There are also a number of unique ways to tour the city, such as through the Accomplice Show, an immersive theatrical experience that takes you on an adventure. See https://www.accomplicetheshow.com for more information.

    Additionally, the iconic attractions are worth a visit, such as Grand Central Terminal, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Central Park. Even if you don't go inside, it is worth getting a view of the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. You can also walk around Wall Street and then take the Staten Island Ferry (free of charge) between Manhattan and Staten Island for great views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

    Additionally, the Union Square Greenmarket (17th Street and Broadway) is a great farmer's market offering an array of produce, wine, cheese, baked goods, meat/seafood, and more. The items are from Long Island, New Jersey, Upstate New York, and other nearby areas. The Union Square Greenmarket is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.